Ndanda Tanzania/East Africa

                                                           Zakeo (Zachaeus): Center for Adult Christian Formation

The Benedictine Abbey of Ndanda in Tanzania/East Africa is building a retreat house.  Since its foundation on Dec. 2, 1906, one hundred years ago, Ndanda has been a center of evangelization in the South-Eastern part of this country at the African East coast right below the equator.  Hundreds of thousands of people have accepted the Christian faith and became members of the Catholic Church through the work of the Missionary Benedictines during the past decades.  Starting in 1963, the Benedictine mission territory of this area was divided first into two, then into three dioceses, headed by native bishops.  Tanzanian priests took over the pastoral ministry in most parishes.  The Benedictine Abbey, which originally consisted of only Anglo European monks, has become a mixed and integrated community with an equally large number of native Tanzanian monks.

However, with the Church now established in this part of the country, the tasks of the monks have not come to an end.  The young Tanzania Church still needs help.  Apart from one school for catechists, there is no center for adult Catholic faith formation in any of the three dioceses, nor is there a retreat house.  Since1990, the abbey has been active in this area through the simple and small retreat and conference center called Zakeo (Zachaeus), a building belonging to the diocese, which the local bishop had made available temporarily.  Father Severin Pieper, OSB, directs and organizes there with dedication a wide variety of seminars and retreats for catechists, parish counsels, choir leaders, youth ministers, women’s groups, kindergarten teachers and increasingly also young African Religious.  Now for various reasons, also because of a road expansion project right by the existing house, there is need for a new facility.   In fact, such a spiritual center for the three dioceses is urgently necessary.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Abbot Dionys of Ndanda points out: “The Christian faith has to be deepened and enlivened.  Clergy and lay ecclesial ministers alike need encouragement, strengthening and training for their tasks.” 

Construction is already underway at the new Zakeo.  The maximum occupancy will be forty people.  The cost estimate, without interior furnishing, is US $ 714,500.  The workshops of Ndanda Abbey can carry out planning and construction.  A new center for adult Christian formation and retreats is a very important contribution to the Church and society of Tanzania.  Do you see a way to help Abbot Dionys and his community with this project?  Any donation will be of great help and is appreciated.

For more information or to send any help possible, please contact us at:

Benedictine Mission House
P.O. Box 528
Schuyler, NE 68661-0528
402.352.2177

e-mail:   FrVolker@BenedictineMissionHouse.com

               (Fr. Volker - Mission Procurator)
             BroTobias@BenedictineMissionHouse.com  

               (Bro. Tobias - Director of Development)